Interactive home information system

• US 5,412,720 A
• Filed: 05/01/1992
• Issued: 05/02/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ActiveVideo Networks, Inc. (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ICTV, Inc.
• Inventors: Hoarty, W. Leo
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, Tod R.
• Application Number:
  US07/877,325
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 380/10, 380/15, 358/86, 455/4.1, 455/4.2, 455/5.1, 455/6.1, 455/6.2, 348/12, 348/13
• US Class Current: 380/211
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04802 3D-info-object: information is displayed on the internal or external surface of a three dimensional manipulable object, e.g. on the faces of a cube that can be rotated by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/48 using compressed domain processing techniques other than decoding, e.g. modification of transform coefficients, variable length coding [VLC] data or run-length data motion estimation in a transform domain H04N19/547; processing of decoded motion vectors H04N19/513
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/61 in combination with predictive coding
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/90 using coding techniques not provided for in groups H04N19/10-H04N19/85, e.g. fractals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/17372 the upstream transmission being initiated or timed by a signal from upstream of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/1739 the upstream communication being transmitted via a separate link, e.g. telephone line
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2221 being a cable television head-end CATV in broadcast systems H04H20/78
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23614 Multiplexing of additional data and video streams arrangements for simultaneous broadcast of plural pieces of information H04H20/28
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2362 Generation or processing of Service Information [SI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2385 Channel allocation H04N21/266 takes precedence; Bandwidth allocation H04N21/24 takes precedence ; allocation of channels according to the instantaneous demands of the users in time-division multiplex systems H04J3/1682; admission control, resource allocation in open networks H04L12/5692; arrangements for maintenance or administration in data switching networks involving bandwidth and capacity management H04L41/0896; negotiating bandwidth in wireless networks H04W28/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2665 Gathering content from different sources, e.g. Internet and satellite
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2668 Creating a channel for a dedicated end-user group, e.g. insertion of targeted commercials based on end-user profiles information retrieval from the Internet by querying with filtering and personalisation G06F16/9535; arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast H04H20/10; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; adaptation of message content in packet-switching networks H04L51/063
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4348 Demultiplexing of additional data and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4383 Accessing a communication channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/488 Data services, e.g. news ticker systems specially adapted for using meteorological information in broadcast systems H04H60/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6118 : involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6168 : involving cable transmission, e.g. using a cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 : Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 : involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/45 : Picture in picture , e.g. displaying simultaneously another television channel in a region of the screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/10 : Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable H04N7/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/173 : with two-way working, e.g. subscriber sending a programme selection signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/17345 : Control of the passage of the selected programme

Abstract

An interactive cable television system having a plurality of feeder servers, a plurality of home interface controllers and a feeder port. Home interface controllers are each equipped with a radio frequency input and a data communications link with a receiver and transmitter in the feeder port. A node control in communication with the feeder port determines whether a home interface controller is active and then assigns a feeder server to it. The feeder server provides one of a plurality of information signals from a headend depending on a selection input. Digitally compressed video signals are provided at the headend. The digitally compressed video signals can be provided by a modulator means at a carrier frequency greater than the upper frequency limit for carrying analog television signals with acceptable quality on the cable system.

The cable television system may make use of a scrambler that maintains the chrome subcarrier on a sync-stripped output signal at all times including the period of vertical retrace. The sync-stripped output signal is modulated at a first carrier frequency and the sync-signal is modulated at a second carrier frequency. A corresponding decoder is provided for receiving scrambled signals and restoring the sync-signal to restore the television signal.

Claims

1. A node for use in an interactive cable television environment, the node comprising:

a headend port for communication with a cable headend;

a feeder port, including at least one receiver and transmitter, for communication with a plurality of home interface controllers, each home interface controller having a radio frequency input and a data communications link with the at least one receiver and transmitter in the feeder port;

a plurality of feeder server means, each feeder server means in communication with the headend port and the feeder port, for providing one of a plurality of information services depending on a selection input, each information service having at least an information output, each feeder server means including modulator means for providing the information output of a selected service at a selected carrier frequency to the feeder port;

node control means, in communication with the feeder port, for determining whether a home interface controller is active based on information received over the data communications link and, in the event the home interface controller is determined to be active, for assigning a feeder server means to it during the time such interface controller is determined to be active.

2. A node according to claim 1, wherein each feeder server means further includes means for demodulating and decompressing a compressed video information radio frequency signal received at the headend port.

3. A node according to claim 1, wherein:

with each home interface controller there is associated a remote unit having controls for moving a cursor displayed on a television connected to the controller and for making a selection; and

each feeder server means further includes interactive means (i) for providing, based on information received over the data communications link, a video information signal causing a display, on a television connected to a home interface controller to which the feeder server has been assigned by the node control means, that permits the viewer thereof to move the cursor thereon and make a selection and (ii) for communicating data to and from the headend to permit the viewer to obtain interactive television service.

4. A node according to claim 1, wherein:

the information output includes an NTSC signal source; and

each feeder server means further includes;

stripper means for removing the sync signal from the source to provide a sync-stripped output signal;

subcarrier means for maintaining the chroma subcarrier on the sync-stripped output signal at all times including the periods of horizontal and vertical retrace to provide a resultant scrambled signal;

first modulator means for supplying the resultant scrambled signal at a first carrier frequency to the feeder port; and

second modulator means for supplying the sync signal stripped by the stripper means at a second carrier frequency to the feeder port.

5. A node according to claim 4, wherein, each feeder server further includes luminance mask generator means for providing a false luminance signal during the periods of horizontal and vertical retrace.

6. A node according to claim 4, wherein the second carrier frequency is approximately 50 MHz.

7. A system for providing a scrambled signal over a cable television system from a television signal source comprising:

stripper means for removing the sync signal from the source to provide a sync-stripped output signal;

subcarrier means for maintaining the chroma subcarrier on the sync-stripped output signal at all times including the period of vertical retrace;

first modulator means for supplying the resultant scrambled signal at a first carrier frequency over the cable system; and

second modulator means for supplying the sync signal stripped by the stripper means at a second carrier frequency over the cable system.

8. A system according to claim 7, further comprising;

luminance mask generator means for providing a false luminance signal during the periods of horizontal and vertical retrace.

9. A system according to claim 7, wherein the second carrier frequency is approximately 50 MHz.

10. A system, for decoding a composite scrambled television signal that includes a first carrier, at a first frequency, modulated with a sync-stripped video signal with a continuously present chroma subcarrier and a second carrier, at a second frequency, modulated with the stripped sync signal, the system comprising:

first demodulator means for demodulating the sync-stripped signal at the first frequency and having an output;

second demodulator means for demodulating the stripped sync signal at the second frequency and having an output; and

combining means for combining the outputs of the first and second demodulator means in such a way as to restore the television signal.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein the second frequency is approximately 50 MHz.

12. A cable television system permitting interactive television service, comprising:

a cable system having a headend and trunk and feeder cables and taps thereon for providing information service to subscribers, with the cable system having an upper frequency limit for carrying analog television signals with acceptable quality from the headend up to the taps;

source means for providing at least one digitally compressed video signal at the headend;

modulator means at the headend for supplying the digitally compressed video signal over the cable system at a carrier frequency greater than the upper frequency limit.

13. A cable television system according to claim 12, wherein the source means includes means for providing a plurality of digitally compressed video signals, and further comprising mux means for multiplexing the digitally compressed video signals, wherein the modulator means includes means for supplying the multiplexed video signals at a carrier frequency greater than the upper frequency limit.

14. A cable television system according to claim 13, further comprising at least one node located at a feeder, the node including:

a headend port for communication with a cable headend;

a feeder port for communication with a plurality of home interface controllers, each home interface controller having a radio frequency input and a data communications link with the feeder port;

a plurality of feeder server means, each feeder server means in communication with the headend port and the feeder port, for providing one of a plurality of information services depending on a selection input, each information service having at least an information output, each feeder server means including

modulator means for providing the information output of a selected service at a selected carrier frequency to the feeder port; and

means for demodulating, demultiplexing and decompressing the multiplexed video signals received at the headend port.

15. A cable television system according to claim 14, wherein each feeder server means further includes node control means, in communication with the feeder port, for determining whether a home interface controller is active based on information received over the data communications link and, in the event the home interface controller is determined to be active, for assigning a feeder server means to it during the time such interface controller is determined to be active.

16. A cable television system permitting interactive television service comprising:

a cable system having a headend and trunk end feeder cables for providing information service to subscribers;

service means at the headend for providing a plurality of digitally compressed video signals;

mux means at the headend for multiplexing the digitally compressed video signals;

modulator means at the headend for supplying the multiplexed video signals on a radio frequency carrier; and

at least one node located proximately at a feeder, said node including;

a headend port for communication with the cable headend;

a feeder port for communication with a plurality of home interface controllers, each home interface controller having a radio frequency input and a data communications link with the feeder port; and

a plurality of feeder server means, each feeder server means in communication with the headend port and the feeder port, for providing one of a plurality of information services depending on a selection input, each information service having at least an information output, each feeder server means including;

modulator means for providing the information output of a selected service at a selected radio frequency to the feeder port;

download means for demodulating, demultiplexing and decompressing the multiplexed video signals received at the headend port; and

node control means, in communication with the feeder port, for determining whether a home interface controller is active based on information received over the data communications link, and, in the event the home interface controller is determined to be active, for assigning a feeder server means to it during the time such interface controller is determined to be active.